Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-07

AT go p. m. Sunday another bulletin was
issued which stated that there was no change,
and no sign of consciousness but that death
would probably not occur Sunday. Mr..
Thomas G. Sherman, and other immediate
friends of the family were admitted to the
sick room during the day, and one after an
other emerged with eyes filed with tears.
III the afternoon it required the services Of
two policemen to keep the steps to the dwell
ing from being b!ockei completely by the
crowd. DR.. searle made another call upon
Mr.. Beecher about 5 O'Clock, and said that
he thought he was breathing easier, and he
did not look for immediate dissolution. 1t
was his opinion that Mr. Beecher would live
until Monday morning.
Shortly after the services held at the
church, which consisted only of the admins
tration of the sacrament by the Revs
Messrs. Powell and Halliday, a meeting of
the officers of the church was held for the
purpose of taking whatever action might be
deemed necessary in the event OF Mr..
Beecher's death. Mr.. Henry L. Pratt, who
presided, appointed as a committee John s.
Howard, who is one of the oldest members
OF the church; Augustus Storrs, s. V.
White, Thomas j. Sidney, and Rossiter W.
Raymond. The meeting then nd journed.
Nearly all the pastors in Brooklyn made
reference in their sermons Sunday morning
TO the sudden illness which had befalien the
distinguished clergyman, so widely known
and revered
At 10 O'Clock Sunday evening Mr. Beecher's
condition was practically unchanged. DR..
Searle, previous to his going to Mr. Beecher's
house, where he remained for the night, is
sued statement to that effect stating that
the pastor was in deeply comatose state
from which he would probably never rally
The boiy and extremities were equally
wsrm. The face was flushed and had a
somewhat livid hue. He was unable to
speak or to swallow anything except small
quantities of liquid, and these must be care
fully administered to prevent choking
During the day he was under the constant
supervision Of his physic an, who remained
with him during the night Drs. W r Hell
muth and W. A Hammond, of New York
city, each visited him once during the day.
All these medical advisers were in full and
active accord as to the nature and location
of the disease 1t was their opinion that the
history of Sunday confirmed the opinion
they had entertained from the beginning,
viz: that recovery was not to be hoped for
that though the eifusion of blood into the
brain had been stopped, fresh hemorrhage
might at any time occur and speedily end
life; that this was not likely to happen i'm
| mediately, and should it not occur his life
may yet be spared for several days; how
long depends upon his endurance and
strength OF constitution.
Among the hundreds of Mr.. Beecher's per-
sonal friends who sought admission to the
house during the day were noticed many of
the leading citizens of New York and Brook
Ign. Noticeable among the callers was the
venerable deacon John 7. Howard, one of
the founders of Plymouth church and one of
three trustees who signed the call in 1S47
which brought Mr. Beeeher from Indianap-
Oils TO this city. Deacon Howard was the
only one outside OF the family admitted to
Mr. Beecher's bedside He was broken down
by emotion. Mrs. Bsecher is utterly worn
out. She is year older than Mr.. Beecher
and is feeble at best DIR. Edward Bsecher,
brother of the dying man, was at the house
Sunday evening.
Dr. Hammond was seen late Sunday night
and said Mr. Beecher was beyond all human
| aid; his family understood that and death
NC iOthcd Att at dtS IT. DctI 10
was seen at 8 o'clock and said that be be-
lieved Mr.. Beecher would die before morn
ing
No sermon was preached at Mr.. Beechers
| church Sunday morning, but beautiful
and impressive service took its place. The
church was well filled Rev DR.. Powell,
| secretary of The Home Missionary society,
conducted the service, assisted by Rev. S. h.
| HI 81 NJ -
ant. Dr. Powell prayed for the congrega.
ton in the deep affection that had come upon
them. Then the venerable DR.. Halliday rose
and with trembling voire said at seems fit
| that we omit the regular slrvlce and csle-
hrate only the communion. | think yeur
/ hearts viii readily respond to the change in
/ the service. Tears strelmsd down his cheeks
rs he added that few moments before the
| condition of Mr. Beecher had been pro
nounced hopeless Sobs were heard from all
! parts of the church, and handkerchiefs were
applied To the eyes of every woman and
many OF the men present Several new
members were received into the church, be
ing baptized by Mr. Halliday, and the com,
munion sacrament was observed. This, with
reading of the service and the singing of Que
of Mr. Beecher's favorite hymns, ended the
morning meeting A more mournful oc-
| casion WAS never witnessed All seemed te
| feel a sense of personal bereavement, almost
| o. despair
| Mr. Halliday announced that a service Of
| prayer would be held in the evening, a.
many of Beechers friends would be in the
vicinity and that would be the best means Of
| informing them of his condition. Before
I fl5--,ir-fr,gr ha NJ Half5I law
said it seemed appropriate at this time tx
read an extract from their pastors writings.
| He read this sentence: when we have
passed into the twilight of life, and our sun
seems to be setting, let US call back, 4 live.
| As the people slowly left the church, Tn
nrganist played, i Know That My Redeeme
! Livethn
At the service of prayer in Plymouth
| oh urch in the evening there was a repetition
| o. the sad scenes OF the morning meeting
| Mr. Beecher's old friends prayed and talksl
about their dying brother and pastor
Among those who partook Of the exchang
OF Renaissance and coincidence were Dl
Halliday, Professor Rossiter Raymond, Dr
Edward Beecher, Deacon s. V. White
Thomas S. G. Shearman and Rev. Lyma
| Abbott
A near friend of Mr.. Beecher says that til
property left by him will not exceed in valu
Sl25, 600, though his income for score O
years has been So, 600 per annum- He CAV
freely in all sorts of charities, and the onl
self-indulgence for which he was noted wa
in the collection of curious gems.
In Other Congregations.
New YORK, March Rev. R. s. Storr.
who has long been antagonistic to NJ
Beecher, in lis PRAYER for the sick lin gu
Ihisl congregation Sunday, added the words
land vicinity He also prayed that Ii
Impending blow might be- spared" 1t WI
generally received by the congregation as
reference to Mr.. Beecher.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, March IT. De Wi
Talmage, in abiding to Mr.. Beecher in b
sermon Sunday. said that while persol
might differ from him in politics and relil
ion, all would acknowledge that when Henri
Ward Beecher died a vast vacuum would
left in this CITY and land After paving